Reel Affirmations 2003

IF YOU DIDN’T catch Blue Haven () as part of the “For Men Only” shorts on Wednesday, then by all means make a run for this free showing. This skateboarding, transsexual love story is well worth the time. If you’ve already caught it, however, this series may seem a little light.

Same Difference () is the story of identical twin brothers, one of whom is secretly gay and struggling with how to come out to his gregarious straight brother. What earns the fourth star here is a simple yet impressive technical feat achieved — one that’s so seamless you don’t realize the deception until the final credits.

In The Violin Lesson () finds a young farm boy — a veritable violin virtuoso, it so happens — also struggling with his sexuality, and his attraction to his best friend. When he’s caught in a compromising solo situation in the barn by his father, the standard father-son talk takes an unexpected turn.

Finally, poor Steven () is stuck with his anti-gay parents protesting at a gay pride parade and festival. Yet another in a long line of tiresome, aren’t we so FABULOUS?!? short films, where all the dialogue is choir-preaching exposition and anyone who isn’t into drag, leather or the circuit is a fundamentalist prig. Yawn.